She threw.
The axe hit the board with a dull thunk and stuck barely off to the side and nowhere near the bullseye.
She turned to me with a grin that said she absolutely did not care.“Now we can play together.”
I laughed despite myself.“More like I can teach you how to aim, baby.”
Her smile went slow and dangerous.She picked up another axe and held it out to me, handle-first.“Show me the way, handsome.”
Christ.
I took the axe and stepped into the booth with her.The wood floor creaked under our boots.The target loomed ahead, scarred from a thousand throws.
“Okay,” I said, slipping into instruction mode because it was safer than thinking about the way she was looking at me.“You’re gripping too tight.”
She rolled her eyes.“I’ve been told that before.”
I ignored that.Mostly.
I stepped behind her, close enough that I could feel her warmth through my shirt.Slowly, deliberately, I adjusted her stance.Feet apart, weight balanced.I guided her arms up.“Relax your shoulders,” I murmured near her ear.“You’re muscling it.”
She inhaled, her back pressing into me just slightly.“I’m relaxed.”
I huffed a laugh.“You’re lying.”
I placed my hands over hers on the handle, aligning the axe with the center of the target.I could feel her heartbeat through her back.Fast.Steady.Alive.
“Eyes on the bullseye,” I said.“Don’t think about the throw.Just let it go.”
She nodded.
We moved together.One smooth motion.
The axe flew.
This time it hit dead center, biting into the wood with a sharp crack.
Clove gasped.“Oh my God.”
She spun in my arms, eyes wide and bright.“Did you see that?”
I didn’t answer.
Because suddenly she was right there.Close.Too close to pretend this was just axe throwing.
“You did that,” I said quietly.
She shook her head.“We did.”
Her hands slid up my chest without thinking.Or maybe with too much thinking.
I dipped my head and kissed her.
Not rushed.Not frantic.
Just deep enough to remind myself she was real.That she was here.That I hadn’t imagined the way she fit with me.
Her fingers curled into my shirt.She rose up on her toes like she wanted more.